II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4031 

To authorize the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration to award grants to expand or create health care provider pipeline programs. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 21, 2024 

Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. CASEY) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To authorize the Administrator of the Health Resources and 

Services Administration to award grants to expand or 

create health care provider pipeline programs. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Providing Resources 

5 and Opportunities for Health Education And Learning 

6 Act of 2024’’ or the ‘‘PRO-HEAL Act of 2024’’. 

7 SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO EXPAND OR CREATE HEALTH 

8 CARE PROVIDER PIPELINES. 

9 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 


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1 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis2 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Health Re3 sources and Services Administration. 

4 (2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti5 ty’’ means a State or institution of higher education. 

6 (3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 

7 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 

8 meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the 

9 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 

10 (4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 

11 the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Com12 monwealth of Puerto Rico, and each of the outlying 

13 areas (as such term is defined in section 8101 of the 

14 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 

15 (20 U.S.C. 7801)). 

16 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 

18 award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible enti19 ties to enable the eligible entities to expand or create 

20 health care provider pipeline programs. 

21 (2) DURATION.—Grants awarded under this 

22 section shall be for a term of not more than 5 years. 

23 (3) RESERVATION.—The Administrator shall 

24 reserve 25 percent of amounts made available to 

25 carry out this section to award grants to eligible enVerDate Sep 11 2014 17:41 Apr 10, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4031.IS S4031

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1 tities that are eligible institutions described in sec2 tion 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

3 U.S.C. 1067q). 

4 (4) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 

5 section, the Administrator shall give priority to— 

6 (A) programs designed to serve under7 served or rural communities; 

8 (B) programs designed to increase the 

9 number of health care professionals who are 

10 primary care providers; or 

11 (C) eligible entities that intend to recruit a 

12 majority of individuals to participate in the 

13 health care provider pipeline program from 

14 within the same State as the eligible entity or 

15 in which the eligible entity is located. 

16 (c) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity that desires to 

17 receive a grant under this section shall submit an applica18 tion to the Administrator at such time, in such manner, 

19 and accompanied by such information as the Adminis20 trator may require. 

21 (d) USE OF FUNDS.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity that re23 ceives a grant under this section shall use the grant 

24 funds to expand or create health care provider pipe25 line programs that are designed to increase the numVerDate Sep 11 2014 17:41 Apr 10, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4031.IS S4031

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1 ber of one or more of the following groups of health 

2 care professionals: 

3 (A) Medical Doctors and Doctors of Osteo4 pathic Medicine. 

5 (B) Physician Assistants. 

6 (C) Nurse Practitioners. 

7 (D) Nurses. 

8 (E) Emergency Medical Technicians. 

9 (F) Dentists. 

10 (G) Behavioral Health Providers. 

11 (2) ADDITIONAL PROVIDERS.—The Adminis12 trator may add to the list of health care profes13 sionals eligible for health care provider pipeline pro14 grams under paragraph (1) based on areas of need 

15 and shortages across the Nation. 

16 (e) REPORTS.—An eligible entity that receives a 

17 grant under this section shall submit a report to the Ad18 ministrator, not later than 5 years after receiving the 

19 grant and at the end of the grant period, on the implemen20 tation of the health care provider pipeline program, includ21 ing details on— 

22 (1) a breakdown of funding uses; 

23 (2) admission rates to the program; 

24 (3) admission criteria for the program; 

25 (4) demographics of admitted students; and 


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1 (5) program drop-out rates. 

2 (f) GRANTS AFTER REAUTHORIZATION.—If the 

3 grant program under this section is authorized for a fiscal 

4 year after fiscal year 2029, the Administrator, in awarding 

5 grants after fiscal year 2029, shall give priority to eligible 

6 entities that have already received a grant under this sec7 tion. 

8 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

9 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

10 $215,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 

11 2029. 

Æ 


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